Does anyone remember when the warning lights on the dash of our cars were called dummy lights? If the oil pressure was low, a light would come on; another light would come on if the vehicle was overheating. We also had a brake light that showed our parking brake was still on. Then, there were indicator lights for the turn signals, which we still have today. Back in the day, the turn signal did not turn off automatically, so the sound was a reminder to turn it off.
Undoubtedly, the term “dummy light” was well-earned. You would follow a person for 30 minutes with their turn signals flashing or emergency flashers going off as they drove down the road. I remember driving to high school from Arnold, following a car with its parking brake still on and smoke pouring out of the rear axle. Not only did they ignore the dummy light, but they also ignored the smoke in their mirrors and the people in front or behind them flashing their headlights at them.
The situation does not concern intelligence; instead, it concerns attention amid busy lives. I remember one girl I went to school with who drove down from Arnold with her parking brake on. When we got to school, she got out of her car with smoke still pouring out, the brake drum glowing red, and she was so surprised. She was so worried about a test that she was clueless about everything around her.
Can’t we all identify with her? I can not count the times I have driven from Arnold to Angels Camp in my lifetime.; it has to be over 10,000 times. With familiarity comes routine; with routine, our minds can wonder. I have driven that Highway 4 corridor so many times in the past, and upon arrival, I realize I have no memory of the drive due to deep thought. This reality also puts a chill in me; how could I be driving a lethal weapon and be so unaware?
This same mindset occurs when we come to church or Bible study. Our routines can go on auto-pilot during times of deep thought or difficulties. Yes, we can come to church, worship, listen to the pastor, and have zero interaction with the Word or the Holy Spirit. We can all allow the church to become routine.
We will find a warning as we open 1 John Chapter 2 this Sunday. The question is, will we hear it, or are we too distracted? I hope I am not the only one who gets distracted. I pray this Sunday that I will be fully engaged and will not allow Satan to distract my ADD brain from what John so severely wanted the church of 100 AD to know in this beautiful letter.